Magical year of planning

[autoracepr989]

This trip is becoming real noow to me as I made some ressies last night. I have the rental car reserved for Jan 6-9.

My heart does go out to all of Boston still

 

[autoracepr989]

DMom just mentioned a short notice trip to see DSis next month for her & I. Lots of travel if it happens for both of us as we have a trip to KY tentatively planned for Mother's Day weekend. Then she would leave the 16th & I'd fly on the 20th to meet up with her. Then we'd both fly home on the 23rd or 24th

 

[autoracepr989]

Well I'm not making the trip to KY over mothers day weekend as I'll have a take home final to be working on.

DMom & I are definitely looking like we'll be going to WDW in mid-May as well with me flying to join her there on the 19th or 20th & flying home that Friday while her dates would be a little different. This is going to be a mom & daughter trip to recoup from the nonstop lives we've had since fall & time in the happy place after her husband/ my father passing from cancer in March.

No real set plans at this point for it. Don't know where we'll stay or anything else yet. we do know that we'll do CS dining over TS as its hard for me to eat any protein besides poultry & fish. I coped on the last trip but have learned a better strategy for controlling it all since then.

 

[autoracepr989]

It's official!!!! DMom & I are booked @ POP May 18-24. Plus I have an ADR at the Wave at the Contemporary for the day I leave for breakfast.

 

[autoracepr989]

Ok sooo here's a rough outline of the days that I'm thinking for the May trip.

Saturday, Mat 18th: Work a full day then get to the airport for my flight to Disney!

Sunday, May 19th: Family visit in Safety Harbor, Fl

Monday, May 20th: MK in the AM, then Epcot in the afternoon/evening

Tuesday, May 21st: HS in the AM then MK in the PM

Wednesday, May 22nd: MK in the AM then HS in the PM

Thursday, May 23rd: relax @ POP/explore AOA in AM followed by time at DTD & DVC tour, capping off the day is dinner @ Captain Cooks followed by WISHES & the electric water parade from the beach at Poly.

Friday, May 24theparture Day Breakfast at The Wave, explore resorts, & leave.

 

[autoracepr989]

So this plan very well may change as I found out yesterday that my friend I'm sharing a room with marathon weekend will also be at WDW with her 2 kiddos the same time I'm there next month.

I also lucked out & got two $10.00 Disney gift cards with my DMR points. This means once they get here I have $41 in gift cards for my January trip.

 

[autoracepr989]

Wow it's been about a week since I got on here to post. Lots of things have been going on.

DMom & I have a rental car for the weekend as she is thinking of buying the Equinox or Traverse & that is what we got. I did some calling of rental companies & got lucky with getting a company to guarantee us the car until we could get there for pick up.

Then we had a birthday party about an hour away from home tonight to be at. We're on the way home now. I'm in the middle of working 13 days straight for the second straight length of time in 27 days.

I am starting to get prepared dor finals as well. They are a take home final next weekend & a twi hour/100 multiple choice question final in the 17th. I'm taking it early to be in disney.

I am hoping for decent weather next Saturday as I am having a bonfire for my birthday. A friend is hosting it at her house for me. Gonna be sure to have my final done between thursday & friday so that i can really relax then over the weekend.

I've got most of my stuff packed already since it'll make life easier to not worry about it as well during finals.

Any one have any suggestions of things I should be sure to get to do on this trip???

 

[autoracepr989]

10 Days before I get onto my flight!!!!! Definitely am looking forward to it all. Now to make it through finals

 

[autoracepr989]

Single digit dance!! 9 Days til I'm on my way. Got Mickey Mail yesterday, but it had the wrong name on it. They put DSis's name on it & not mine.

I have 3 tests left & I'm done with the semester. I have a take home final for one class, then the final & a 10 question test/quiz in another class. The end is in sight & I'll be making sure I'm packed this weekend. Well that is between a bonfire & lunch w/an aunt for my birthday.

As I'm not sure if I'll get back on here before Sunday.... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all the moms reading this.

 

[autoracepr989]

5 Days til I'm on the plane. DSis also managed to get ressies at BOG for the day after I get in... So the 19th right away. Only downside is that we're only going to go if she can trade the shift she has that day away. Fingers crossed

 

[autoracepr989]

12 hours & I'll be waiting to board the plane. 13 hours until the first flight I'm on takes off. Can't wait to be in WDW

 

[autoracepr989]

Ok Sorry It's been almost a month since I left for FL & I haven't updated. So quickly from my phone tonight & I'll post details tomorrow from my computer.

I have room ressies made. The whole of who's going when is set, & I can start planning my solo days & dining ressies

 

[autoracepr989]

Ok, first things first. I got back from the first of the trips to the world in May. I don’t know if I should do a trip report within this or start a second thread as the TR for May, my trip to Charlotte in October, and then my trip back to the world in January. Let me know if anyone has any opinions on this.

I haven’t been on here since I left for my trip as not only did I have my trip, final grades for the semester were released for school (straight As), my boyfriend has been in and out of town due to work, & my hours at work tripled when they should’ve dropped. I do apologize for this to anyone who is reading this PTR.

I can tell you for sure who all is going to the world in January as part of the trip. There’s me, my friends that I’ll refer to as S & KL, S’s kids (B & KS), & S’s mom P. There’s one more member to our party that I haven’t met yet and that’s S’s friend that I’ll refer to as KK. Yes I know lots of K names on this trip.

S is a DVC member so we are all staying in villas for the portion of the trip that’s not solo for me. S got us at Animal Kingdom Lodge for 1/9-1/13. We even have savanna view for 1/10-1/13. S is going to run the ½ marathon so the plan that I’m having at least is to be up early enough on 1/11 to go on the marathon bus and cheer her on in the MK & by the finish line. I haven’t gotten to talk to the rest to see what their thoughts on joining me are. S is going to make a brunch ressie for after she’s done running.

At this point I am scheduled to stay at All Star Movies 1/31-1/9. This was the only way to make a room reservation through the online system or the CM system. It will be getting canceled once the CM rates are released for that time. I have a plan of attack as I was able to find the park hour schedule for my dates. I am going to be trying to get a BOG ressie for all of us for 1/9. I am going to also be making a Chef Mickey ressie for S, S’s family, & myself for 1/9 so we can get to expo for S to get her bib.

I am planning to have a bunch of ressies for my solo portion that are pre-park opening breakfasts. I also plan to get photopass + for the trip. I do plan to have a break in the middle of my trip from the world to go over to the Kennedy Space Center.

The reason that I can really post who all is going is that since my time at the world last month and even before that really S & I had been trying to get KL to come along with us. We got her completely convinced last night when I had my mom talk to her & see that S & I want to pay her way there as a treat for her after all that she’s done for us and a reprieve from all that she’s dealt with in the last year and a half

Ok that’s all for tonight as I need to pay attention to the baseball game my boyfriend is playing in.

 

[autoracepr989]

My flights are booked & I know some of the adrs that I'm gonna be trying to get in only a few days. I am trying for BOG one night OHANA on one of the mornings we are a group of 4, Chef Mickey the morning everyone else gets in, & a couple of pre-park opening breakfasts for while I'm solo. Wish me luck. I hope to get them all when I want them.

 

[autoracepr989]

Ok, I’ll do a quick one post trip report about my trip in May to the world.

Saturday I worked until 3 then had to rush home to let out a dog and feed her. Then I had to drive to the second house my family owns, since I was leaving my car in that garage, to get picked up by my uncle. I made it in plenty of time for my flight, even with the interstate being closed right by the airport. I caught both of my flights and made it to Orlando on time about 12:00am. I had planned to take ME, but DMom had texted & called saying she was using DSis’s car to pick me up with instead in the hope of me getting to the hotel quicker. I still didn’t make it to the resort until about 2:00am

Sunday I ended up sleeping really soundly. DFamily had to wake me up to go to BOG for lunch. DSis really wanted to make sure that I got to eat there this trip since Beauty & the Beast is my favorite Disney Movie. So we ate, went around MK for a while before I headed back to POP for a nap since I was still exhausted. We had dinner at AOA. Then DMom & I went to EPCOT so I could ride on Soarin for the first time. Then we split up, her back to POP & me to MK. I got a lot done during EMH. I did the jungle cruise, POC, Winnie the Pooh ride, as well as Tomorrowland Speedway as walk on rides. I also rode Dumbo 3 times in a row in addition to meeting Ariel and the mouse himself. I also got a bunch of photopass pics taken on my way out of the parks.

Monday DMom & I met DSis outside HS to get into the parks after having walked around DTD & the Boardwalk in the morning. Both of us did the drawing class twice. The second time we got the premier of learning to draw Darth McDuck. We also did TSM. We were going to stay for EMH but decided not to after the rain was coming.

Tuesday we headed down to Safety Harbor, FL to see my great-aunt & uncle. They are the only way I know my grandfather’s family. I never met him so this uncle is the only way to learn about him. I’m really glad that I went with Dmom to see them as our uncle had another heart attack a week before we were down there and was going to have bypass surgery a couple weeks after we saw him.

Wednesday I hung out at HS with DMom & DSis in the morning. Then we went to EPCOT again. I know that I tried to go on Test Track, but it kept going down due to weather, and I got tired of the announcements. I know that we ended up getting stuck in the Mexico Pavilion for a while due to the rain. I separated from my family once it stopped raining to meet up with a friend, her mom, and her kiddos. We were meeting at the MK so the kiddos could see the nighttime parade & Wishes. The only late night that they were having of the trip. We did dinner, the Tea Cups, Under the Sea, Dumbo, and It’s a Small World. We then got them each a light up toy and watched the parade by Liberty Tree Tavern. Then we headed towards the Hub for the castle show & Wishes. I held my friend’s daughter through both shows. She was really tired by the end.

Thursday saw Dmom head to the airport to fly back to Milwaukee. I headed to AK to get my morning started off the right way, with back to back Safaris. Then I met up with Russell & Dug from UP as well as Chip ‘n’ Dale, Louie & Baloo, & Donald. Then it was off to EPCOT to try to ride Test Track and Soarin again. I didn’t get to ride either of them but did meet up with several more characters. I went to the temporary Character Spot, and then met Daisy & Goofy out by Spaceship Earth, while waiting for my friend & her family to get there. From there we went to the Land to eat. I carried the little girl since she was sleeping. She woke up to eat lunch sitting in my lap. Her brother did not want to have anyone hold him besides mom. We then headed over to the Seas for Nemo. The little girl didn’t want to ride with anyone besides me. Then our group was off to meet with some favorite characters, Mickey & Pluto, at the Disney Visa Members Meet & Greet. We then headed off around the world. We really didn’t have an agenda besides to walk around. After walking the world, we got the pictures printed off and headed off. I did go to MK to get some rides in after having gone to the room to repack as I was leaving the next day. I did POC & the Jungle Cruise as my last rides of the trip.

Friday was the day that I was heading home. I went to DTD to do some shopping. I got a couple of pins, a lanyard, and a couple of things for a few friends. I also had the Hawaiian sandwich from EOS. It was ok at best. Before I left to go catch the bus at POP I got a mickey rice crispie treat from Goofy’s Candy Co. along with a cookie. Then I headed back to catch ME to MCO to begin my trip home. There was some confusion on my arrival back to Milwaukee. I was to call my ride when I landed, which I did. But his wife & daughter heard the son, my guy cousin, take out the garbage. It wasn’t until almost an hour later that my guy cousin called to see if I was still waiting as he was on his way. Neither of the ones that knew I had called checked to see that anyone left to come and get me.

 

[autoracepr989]

Alrighty now for a couple of trip planning updates that I have.

My flights have changed for the Charlotte trip I’m taking in October. I don’t get in until about 11:00pm now so I got a hotel right by the airport with a shuttle since I won’t feel like driving an hour to the original hotel that night. I’ll be putting in a full day of clinical rotation before even heading to the Milwaukee airport. I also have paid for both hotel rooms and the rental car in full. All I have left for the trip to pay for is food & activities while I’m there.

DISNEY TRIP REPORT

I got all the ADR’s that we wanted. I got pre-park opening dining times for both Tusker House & Crystal Palace. I also got a 9:00 one for 6 people at Chef Mickey’s on the arrival day for the rest of the group. Then the 4 of us stay at AKV will have an 8:00pm ressie at BOG. MK closes at 8:00 that night so we should be good to go with little crowds on the way out. The following morning we have an 8:25 am ressie at OHANA. This is the request of the one whose birthday it’ll be on Sunday. Saturday we have an 11:00 am ressie for brunch at Akershus. This should work well since one of my friends is running the 1/2 marathon that morning. She wanted either this or Cape May Café.

I also have some dining ressies for if the Congressman’s Office is not able to get a tour of Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for me on either the 7th or 8th. I’ll have tea on the 7th in the Garden View Room and I’ll have breakfast at 1900 Park Fare on the 8th. Without the tour of KSC, it’s not worth it for me to get a rental car, so I won’t be going to Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) for a second time. I am debating a couple of options for what I would like to do there at this point. They have some wonderful interaction possibilities that I would like to do.

I have gift cards for all of the TS costs already. I just have to get more to cover the CS meals & souvenirs that I would like to get. I’ve also decided that I’ll be going on the Keys to the Kingdom tour on the day I have the Crystal Palace ressie, since I’ll already be at MK.

I’ll post what my plan is for parks on the days that I’m solo at least and what I’ve figured out for what some of our park days may look like as a group as well soon. I’ll also post two different plans for my days. One where I’m going to KSC & CMA and where I’m at WDW all the days.

 

[disney-inspired]

Ok with the announcement of the 10k on marathon weekend I now really have a decision to make. Do I do the 10k or do I do the half? Decisions decisions... All on top of my father passing away this morning. Please just let me get through all of it.

I am so sorry for your loss.

Alrighty now for a couple of trip planning updates that I have.

My flights have changed for the Charlotte trip I’m taking in October. I don’t get in until about 11:00pm now so I got a hotel right by the airport with a shuttle since I won’t feel like driving an hour to the original hotel that night. I’ll be putting in a full day of clinical rotation before even heading to the Milwaukee airport. I also have paid for both hotel rooms and the rental car in full. All I have left for the trip to pay for is food & activities while I’m there.

DISNEY TRIP REPORT

I got all the ADR’s that we wanted. I got pre-park opening dining times for both Tusker House & Crystal Palace. I also got a 9:00 one for 6 people at Chef Mickey’s on the arrival day for the rest of the group. Then the 4 of us stay at AKV will have an 8:00pm ressie at BOG. MK closes at 8:00 that night so we should be good to go with little crowds on the way out. The following morning we have an 8:25 am ressie at OHANA. This is the request of the one whose birthday it’ll be on Sunday. Saturday we have an 11:00 am ressie for brunch at Akershus. This should work well since one of my friends is running the 1/2 marathon that morning. She wanted either this or Cape May Café.

I also have some dining ressies for if the Congressman’s Office is not able to get a tour of Kennedy Space Center (KSC) for me on either the 7th or 8th. I’ll have tea on the 7th in the Garden View Room and I’ll have breakfast at 1900 Park Fare on the 8th. Without the tour of KSC, it’s not worth it for me to get a rental car, so I won’t be going to Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) for a second time. I am debating a couple of options for what I would like to do there at this point. They have some wonderful interaction possibilities that I would like to do.

I have gift cards for all of the TS costs already. I just have to get more to cover the CS meals & souvenirs that I would like to get. I’ve also decided that I’ll be going on the Keys to the Kingdom tour on the day I have the Crystal Palace ressie, since I’ll already be at MK.

I’ll post what my plan is for parks on the days that I’m solo at least and what I’ve figured out for what some of our park days may look like as a group as well soon. I’ll also post two different plans for my days. One where I’m going to KSC & CMA and where I’m at WDW all the days.

I just made my ADRs this morning at 3am!
I did get everything I wanted, including a pre-opening ADR for Tusker House

So far I have the dining plan added to my package but hopefully I will get a slight discount when they announce the January promos later this year. I will still get the regular DP but if Stay, Play and Dine is renewed then it will be discounted

If I had known I was going to WDW in January, I probably would have started a year early, too! I get way to excited and burst in the first few post, leaving little to no suspense (and apparently, interest) for the reader.

 

[autoracepr989]

January 4th
Get to the airport 6:00am
Flight departs MKE 7:55 am
Flight arrives at MCO 11:40 am
Go to resort
get refillable mug
Head to EPCOT to redeem the photopass+ and get the trip off to a good start with meeting some characters
Hop to Hollywood Studios to go on TSM and see Osborne Lights.
Finally Hop to Magic Kingdom to hit up a couple of rides and get pictures on Main Street with all the Christmas decorations.

 

[autoracepr989]

January 5

815 Tusker House ADR
Animal Kingdom, hoping to do what I was able to do this year with riding it back to back basically. Then I'm going to catch Festival of the Lion King and ride Dinosaur. I'm going to try to ride most of the photopass+ rides this trip since I'll have it. I also want to meet as many of the characters as I can.

I plan to then hop to Epcot to get another ride on Soarin & Test Track in as well as another Disney Visa Card photo. Anything above this is going to be looked at as a bonus.

Finally I plan to hop to Magic Kingdom for the EMH. I plan to take advantage of these like I did in May. I was able to get a lot accomplished in shorter periods of time.

Jan 6th

I have an 8:05 ADR for Crystal Palace. I plan to have some empty main street pictures taken before checking in. I will have to eat within the hour and fifteen minutes since I am scheduled for the Keys to the Kingdom Tour at 9:30 in the morning. Following the conclusion of the tour I plan to head to EPCOT for yet another Disney Visa picture before I take and go on a tour of the monorail resorts for the Christmas decorations. I also plan to head over to AKL to explore with their decorations. Then it'll be back to EPCOT for EMH that night so I'll take the time to explore the World Showcase.

 

[autoracepr989]

Real Life Update.

I am going to get to pay off my credit cards that I've been running up with getting everything planned for this trip. DMom has offered to pay them off with part of the money I would be getting from my father's estate. I am going to take her up on the offer as that would mean that I would be almost debt free... I'd only have my student loan debt. She paid for my final semester in school for fall since her and my father paid for my brother & sister's schooling. As I had a full ride for college for my Bachelor's Degree, they paid nothing towards it. I know many people don't get any help so I'm grateful for her help this coming semester.

I also ordered the photopass + tonight. I just have to get a couple more gift cards and I'll be set for my food budget. I have $286 right now and figure for my food alone I need about $300-325 plus about another $75 for my part of a friend's food. I am paying for half of what it would cost a friend to come along with us for the set of days from the 9th to the 13th. I have her airfare paid for. I don't have to pay for her ticket as the friend I'm splitting the cost with will be using one of the military tickets she has access to for the first friend. I have already covered the BOG dinner with a gift card that was sent right to the friend. All she will need to pay for is any souvenirs that she wants.

All that's left is to buy my ticket, but that money is stashed in the bank already. I probably have more stashed than what I need. I just am waiting to hear from DSis as to if she can buy a discounted 8 day park hopper for me or if I should be buying a different ticket. She also is going to look into if she buys just a 4 or 5 day park hopper if I can add days on to it. As it'll be a cast member family & friends discounted ticket we don't know if the normal rules will apply or not. We also have to get confirmation on how many days will be covered by her complimentary tickets that she's going to let me use. Yes that is part of the planning that I'm doing is getting things figured out over the phone with DSis, a WDW cm. Yes I know I'm blessed to have access to all the nice things that come with the family tie.